Exercising apparatus



Nov. 10, 1964 F. P. JACOBI EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5, 1961 ATTORNEYZS United States Patent 3,156,465 EXERCISING APPARATUS Frederick P. Jacobi, 514 E. 29th Place, Davenport, Iowa Filed Dec. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 157,134 7 Claims. (Cl. 272-57) This invention relates to exercising apparatus designed to promote physical fitnws.

The current emphasis being placed upon physical education has produced an awareness in the general public that physical fitness is an essential factor in the good health and well being of an individual. Commercial gymnasiums have sprung up throughout the country in response to the eagerness of individuals to remove excess weight and improve body muscle tone in a scientific and orderly fashion. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which may be used elfectively to this end.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an exercising apparatus which develops muscular coordination in the user while providing appropriate muscular development exercises for the major muscles of the body.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an exercising apparatus which is easily fabricated, economical in cost, and which provides a simple, safe and self-challenging form of recreation.

These objects and features are realized in an apparatus which includes a ladder device having parallel rail members on which are mounted hand grips designed for movement along the rail members in self-supporting fashion. In use the ladder is set against a wall or other support at an angle to the vertical and a slide board member is placed over the rungs. The hand grips are then grasped, one in each hand, by the user, and by alternately shifting weight from one hand to the other while the hand grip members are advanced along the rails, a climbing motion is effected. The hand grip members fit loosely over the side rails and have pressure plates disposed between the hand grips and the rails to protect the rails and provide a positive bearing surface for the hand grips which transmit the weight of the user.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus in use;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of a hand grip disposed around the side rail of the ladder with the pressure plate members in position;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of a hand grip member with the pressure plates in position, but with the ladder rail not shown;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the component parts of a hand grip member; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation view showing the manner in which the horizontal cross piece attached to the ladder rests against a wall when in use.

The invention will now be explained with reference to FIGURE 1 which shows a ladder, indicated generally by the numeral 1, comprising a pair of side rails 3 and 5 joined by a plurality of rungs such as shown at 7. The bottom of rail 3 is provided with an open shoe member 9, and the bottom of rail 5 is provided similarly with open shoe member 11, the purpose of which is to provide adequate protection for the rail members and the surface upon which the ladder is placed. The open shoes 9 and 11 also provide the necessary friction to keep the ladder from sliding when it is inclined with respect to the vertical when in use against a wall. These open shoe members may be made from rubber or other plastic materials which exhibit the required cushioning and frictional characteristics.

Disposed over the rungs 7 of the ladder 1 is a slide board member 13 whose purpose is to protect the person utilizing the exercising apparatus from any discomfort which might result in engagement with the ladder rungs during the climbing operation. The slide board may be constructed of a material such as the conventional hardboards available. The essential feature here is that the exposed surface be smooth and afford little frictional engagement with the user. The slide board may be attached to the ladder in any convenient manner, such as by hook members (not shown) fastened to the underside of the slide board and disposed over the rung members.

The top of the ladder 1 is provided with a horizontal cross piece 15 having cushioning wrappings 17 and 19 disposed around the protruding ends of the cross piece to prevent the marring of the wall surface when the ladder is placed in position. The details of this structure can be seen more readily from FIGURE 5 which shows the triangular bracing member 21 used to mount the horizontal cross piece 15 such that it presents a flush surface when the ladder 1 is inclined against wall 23.

FIGURES 2 to 4 are various views of a hand grip member constructed in accordance with the present invention and indicated generally by the numeral 25. The cross sectional configuration of the portion disposed about rail member 3 is C-shaped in form. Adapted to fit within the C-shape are a pair of pressure plate members 27 and 29. Each of the members 27 and 29 has cutout portions to accommodate the walls of the hand grip 25 to provide a complementary locking configuration with the hand grip enabling the pressure plates to be retained in position between the hand grip and the rail members, while remaining free for relatively small adjustments as the hand grip members are advanced along the rail members.

The hand grip 25 is provided with a handle portion 31 having a removable hand grip 33 formed from a resilient material to provide a cushioning action to insure comfort when handle 31 is grasped.

An analysis of the action of pressure plates 27 and 29, shown in FIGURE 2, will explain the principle of operation of the device. As handle member 31 is grasped, a downward force is produced which causes a turning moment of the hand grip 25 about rail 23. Pressure plate 27 and pressure plate 29 are both forced inwardly against rail 3 by the turning moment of the hand grip 25. The frictional contact between the pressure plates 27 and 29 and the rail member 3 is suflicient in all cases to prevent the hand grip 25 from sliding down the rail member. When the downward force on handle 31 is released, the C-shaped hand grip 25 forms a loose fit with rail member 3 and may be moved readily up or down the rail.

The manner of use of the device will now be understood from FIGURE 1 which shows a person in position on the exercising apparatus of the present invention. The hand grip members are grasped in either hand, and the user may climb up or down the rails by alternately shifting his weight from one hand to the other while the hand grip members are advanced along the rails in the desired direction. The hand grips must be sufiiciently sturdy to accommodate persons of various weights, and it has been found that casting these members from aluminum produces a hand grip which is light in weight, yet sturdy enough for all practical applications. Similarly, the pressure plate members may also be made of aluminum, or any other material capable of withstanding the pressures developed between the hand grip and the side rails as the apparatus is utilized.

While the invention has been shown and described with particular reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising device comprising a pair of substantially parallel rail members joined together throughout their length, a slideboard disposed between said rail members, a handgrip member slidably mounted on each of said rail members, and means carried by said handgrip members whereby said handgrip members may be grasped in either hand to enable a person desiring exercise to climb up said rails when they are disposed in a vertically inclined position by alternately shifting his Weight from one hand to another while the handgrip members are advanced along said rails.

2. An exercising device comprising a pair of substantially parallel rail members joined together throughout their length, a slideboard disposed between said rail members, a handgrip member slidably mounted on each of said rail members, each of said handgrip members comprising a substantially rectangular body portion having an elongated handle member attached thereto, and means carried by said handgrip members whereby said handgrip members may be grasped in either hand to enable a person desiring exercise to climb up said rails when they are disposed in a vertically inclined position by alternately shifting his weight from one hand to another while the handgrip members are advanced along said rails.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein 30 said means includes pressure plate members disposed between said handgrips and said rail members to protect said rail members and afford a positive bearing surface for said hand grips.

4. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said means includes a pair of pressure plate members and each pressure plate member has a complementary locking con- 4 figuration with said handgrip so as to be retained in position between said handgrip and said rail member while remaining free for relatively small movements as the handgrip members are advanced along the rail members.

5. An exercising device comprising a pair of substantially parallel rail members joined together throughout their length, and a handgrip member slidably mounted on each of said rail members, each of said handgrip members comprising a substantially rectangular body portion having an elongated handle member attached thereto and means comprising pressure plate members having a complementary locking configuration with said body portion disposed between said body portion and said rail member, whereby said handgrip members may be grasped in either hand to enable a person desiring exercise to climb up said rails when they are disposed in a vertically inclined position by alternately shifting his weight from one hand to another while the handgrip members are advanced along said rails.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said body portion is C-shaped.

77 The combination according to claim 6 wherein the complementary locking configuration of said pressure plate members includes cutout portions on opposite edges conforming to the shape of said body portion to be retained in position between said body portion and said rail member while remaining free for relatively small adjustments as the handgrip members are advanced along the rail members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 450,187 Peterson Apr. 14, 1891 1,613,836 Kuhlrnann Jan. 11; 1927 1,838,705 Robertson Dec. 29, 1931 

1. AN EXERCISING DEVICE COMPRISING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RAIL MEMBERS JOINED TOGETHER THROUGHOUT THEIR LENGTH, A SLIDEBOARD DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID RAIL MEMBERS, A HANDGRIP MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID RAIL MEMBERS, AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID HANDGRIP MEMBERS WHEREBY SAID HANDGRIP MEMBERS MAY BE GRASPED IN EITHER HAND TO ENABLE A PERSON DESIRING EXERCISE TO CLIMB UP SAID RAILS WHEN THEY ARE DISPOSED IN A VERTICALLY INCLINED POSITION BY ALTERNATELY SHIFTING HIS WEIGHT FROM ONE HAND TO ANOTHER WHILE THE HANDGRIP MEMBERS ARE ADVANCED ALONG SAID RAILS. 